6-Day Tanzania Safari through Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater

6 Days Round trip from Arusha Easy pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore three of northern Tanzania's most celebrated wildlife areas
02 Discover the beautiful forests and landscapes of Lake Manyara
03 Opportunity to spot Lake Manyara's famous tree-climbing lions
04 Spend 3 nights exploring the Serengeti ecosystem
05 Experience the Serengeti's legendary endless plains
06 Search for the Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino
07 Exceptional opportunities for lion, leopard and cheetah encounters
08 Descend approximately 600 metres into the Ngorongoro Crater

Discover the landscapes that have made Tanzania one of the world's most celebrated safari destinations on this private 6-day journey starting and ending in Arusha. Explore the lush forests and Rift Valley scenery of Lake Manyara, spend three nights in the legendary Serengeti with exceptional game viewing and possible seasonal Great Wildebeest Migration sightings, and descend into the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater for an unforgettable final safari. Travel throughout in a customized 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, accompanied by your own experienced safari driver-guide, with carefully selected lodges or tented camps and plenty of time dedicated to wildlife viewing.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Arusha, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arusha to Lake Manyara and Your First Game Drive

Start: Your Tanzanian safari begins in Arusha, where your private driver-guide will collect you from your hotel, residence, or the airport.
Transport: Settle into your customized 4x4 Land Cruiser and travel through the beautiful northern Tanzanian countryside toward Lake Manyara National Park.
Game drive: Head into the park for your first game drive.
Wildlife viewing: Look out for elephants moving through the forest, giraffes towering above the vegetation, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, impalas, and large troops of baboons.
Wildlife viewing: The park is also historically famous for its tree-climbing lions, although sightings are unpredictable and never guaranteed.
Birdwatching: Lake Manyara is an excellent birdwatching destination, and depending on water levels and seasonal conditions, flamingos and numerous other waterbirds may be present around the lake.
Transfer: Later, transfer to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Lake Manyara / Karatu Area
Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Day 02

Lake Manyara to Serengeti Through the Ngorongoro Highlands

Meals: After breakfast, leave the Great Rift Valley and begin your journey toward the legendary Serengeti National Park.
Scenic drive: Travel through the spectacular Ngorongoro highlands before the landscape gradually opens into the vast plains for which the Serengeti is famous.
Game viewing: Enjoy game viewing along the way as you travel toward your lodge or tented camp.
Wildlife viewing: The Serengeti supports an extraordinary variety of wildlife, including lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, cheetahs, hyenas, and numerous antelope species.
Accommodation: Arrive at your accommodation later in the day and settle in for your first evening in one of Africa's greatest wilderness areas.
Overnight: Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 03

Full-Day Serengeti Safari Among Big Cats and Open Plains

Safari: Wake to the sounds of the African wilderness and prepare for a full day exploring the Serengeti.
Game drive: Head out early when temperatures are cooler and predators are often particularly active.
Wildlife viewing: The Serengeti is renowned for its exceptional population of lions, but your guide will also search for leopards resting in trees and cheetahs scanning the open plains.
Wildlife viewing: Elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, hyenas, and countless antelopes add to the diversity of the day's game viewing.
Private safari: Your private safari gives you the freedom to spend longer at rewarding sightings rather than following a rigid schedule.
Lunch: Enjoy a picnic lunch in the wilderness or return to your lodge, depending on the day's game-viewing plan.
Game drive: Continue exploring into the afternoon before returning to your camp as the sun sets across the plains.
Overnight: Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 04

Serengeti Wildlife Discovery and Seasonal Migration Tracking

Safari: Your second full day gives you more time to explore different areas of the Serengeti ecosystem.
Great Wildebeest Migration: The park lies at the heart of the Great Wildebeest Migration, an annual movement involving vast numbers of wildebeest, zebras, and other grazers travelling through the greater Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.
Seasonal note: The location of the migrating herds changes throughout the year according to rainfall, grazing, and natural conditions. Your guide will therefore focus the day's game drive on the best available wildlife opportunities for the season of your visit.
Game viewing: Even when the migrating herds are elsewhere, the Serengeti offers exceptional year-round game viewing thanks to its abundant resident wildlife and predators.
Return: Spend another memorable day exploring the savannah before returning to your lodge or tented camp for your final Serengeti evening.
Overnight: Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 05

Serengeti to Ngorongoro via Olduvai Gorge

Meals: Enjoy an early breakfast followed by a final game drive as you begin leaving the Serengeti.
Travel: Travel toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, watching the landscape change as the endless plains rise toward the crater highlands.
Optional visit: Along the way, you may choose to visit Olduvai Gorge, one of the world's most significant paleoanthropological sites.
Travel: Continue toward the Ngorongoro highlands and arrive at your lodge.
Views: Depending on the location of your accommodation, enjoy beautiful views across the surrounding highlands or toward the crater.
Evening: Spend the evening relaxing and preparing for tomorrow's grand finale.
Overnight: Ngorongoro / Karatu Area
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 06

Ngorongoro Crater Safari and Return to Arusha

Meals: After an early breakfast, travel to the crater rim and descend approximately 600 metres into the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater.
Game viewing: Spend the morning exploring its grasslands, wetlands, and woodland habitats.
Wildlife viewing: Look out for lions, buffaloes, elephants, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, hyenas, jackals, and gazelles.
Wildlife viewing: Ngorongoro is also one of Tanzania's important habitats for the endangered black rhino, offering a possibility of completing your Big Five sightings.
Lunch: Enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by the extraordinary crater scenery before ascending the crater wall.
Return: Begin your journey back to Arusha through the beautiful northern Tanzanian countryside.
Drop-off: Upon arrival, your driver-guide will drop you at your hotel, residence, or the airport, marking the end of your six-day adventure.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Arusha 4 cities · 6 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Transport: Private customized 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
Guide: Professional and experienced Tanzania safari driver-guide
Transfers: Arusha pick-up and drop-off
Accommodation: 5 nights safari accommodation
Accommodation: 1 night Lake Manyara/Karatu region
Accommodation: 3 nights Serengeti
Accommodation: 1 night Ngorongoro/Karatu region
Meals: Meals as specified in the itinerary
Fees: Lake Manyara National Park entrance fees
Fees: Serengeti National Park entrance and applicable conservation fees
Fees: Ngorongoro Conservation Area fees
Fees: Ngorongoro Crater descent/service fees
Activities: Private game drives throughout the safari
Meals: Picnic lunches where indicated
Water: Bottled drinking water during game drives
Taxes: Applicable government taxes and safari levies included in the confirmed quotation

What's Not Included

International and domestic flights unless specifically included
Tanzania visa and entry requirements
Travel and medical insurance
Olduvai Gorge entrance/experience unless specifically included
Optional cultural experiences
Optional activities not mentioned as included
Alcoholic and premium beverages
Tips and gratuities
Laundry, souvenirs, and personal expenses
Accommodation in Arusha before or after the safari unless specifically included
Any newly introduced government, park, or conservation charges where applicable

Know before you go

Wildlife sightings: The park is also historically famous for its tree-climbing lions, although sightings are unpredictable and never guaranteed.
Olduvai Gorge: Along the way, you may choose to visit Olduvai Gorge.
Olduvai Gorge: Visit the historic Olduvai Gorge - optional depending on the confirmed package.

Logistics